Sanitary-cup holder.



0. L. RUEHS.

SANITARY 0UP HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1909. RENEWED APR. 28, 1911.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

m /7 VIIIIIAIIILVIIIIIIIIIIIII H UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

cHAn Es L. mil-Ens, or cnrcneo, rnnmorsl Application filed August 18, 1909, Serial No.

means for storing a plurality of drinking vessels and so arranged that vone drinking vessel at the time will be in an accessible position, but the remainder will be kept inclosed and free from dust, or exposure.

To such ends, this invention consists in a receptacle or chamber adapted to hold a number of superimposed drinking vessels or the like and having a discharge opening at its lower end, which is closed by one of the vessels and through which the vessels may be removed, one at the time.

It further consists in means for-storing the used vessels.

It further consists in the several novel features of construction and arrangement described and claimed in the following specifications and claims.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 4

is a horizontal section taken on line 44, Flg. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section illustrating one of the cup retaining devices.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section of a latch for the cover. Fig. 7 is a fragmental plan view of the cover and latch and Fig. 8 is a detall vertical section of a hinge for the cover. Y In these views, 10, represents a receptacle 1n which are placed the clean cups or other drinking vessels, 11. Said receptacle may be of tubular construction as shown, having an open discharge end,-12, at the bottom and a closed upper end 13. If desired, the upper end may be closed'by a cover 14, hinged to the receptacle 10, at 15, and a latch may be provided for securing the cover in place. As shown, a hook, 16, is provided upon the cover, which hook is adapted to be hooked over a stud or screw 17, which extends up SANITARY-CUT HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Nov. 2S, 1911.

513,389. Renewed April 28, 1911. Serial No. 623,958.

' from 3. lug 18 secured to the side of the receptacle. This arrangemer t provides means whereby the upper end may be closed against the entrance of dust and the like, but which may be readily opened to admit the cups.

The vessels are illustrated at 11, and in the form shown consist of the ordinary drinking cup. It is preferred to employ cups having a flaring wall in order that they may nest together so as to economize space, and to prevent the cups from sticking together, means are provided for spacing them apart. As shown, shoulders 21 are formed on the cups a sho'rtdistance below the flanges or rims 22 thereof, which shoulders rest upon the flanges or rims of the cup next below and space the cups apart. Said shoulders may be .formed in any suitable manner as for instance by making indentations in the wall of the cup, or by rolling a .bead thereon,

The cups are supported in the receptacle by suitable cup retaining mechanism, arranged in such manner that the lowermost cup may be partially exposed and held in a convenient position for removal from the receptacle. In the form shown in the drawings the flange of the lowermost cup rests upon movable shoulders 20, which may be moved back to permit the flange of the lowerlnost cup to pass by. A convenient man'- nerof forming said shoulders is to mount pins or studs 23, upon spring arms 24, and secure said arms 24, to the receptacle in such position that the pins or studs may project into the path of the .flanges or rims 22, o the cups. In the drawings I have shown the arms as screwed to the wall of the receptacle 10 at a point above the discharge end, with the pins or studs projecting inwar'd through holes 25 in said wall, the pins and studs extending into the receptacle far enough to engage with the underside ofthe flanges of the cups .whenever they reach their lowermost position. It is preferable to round off the free ends of the pins or studs, and to emplov cups having rounded flanges 22 so as to facilitate the removal of the cups from the discharge end. The pins or studs should be so located with reference to the discharge end that the lowermost cup, which is directly supported thereby, may be partially exposed, for instance it may project down below the receptacle in order that it may be conveniently taken hold of in detaching it from the shoulders 20.

3O denotes a cup receiver for storing the cups after they have been used, and as. shown, comprises a tubular receptacle 31,

preferably attached to the receptacle 10, by hooks 32, that engage with eyes 33, secured upon the receptacle 10. This connection is, however, unnecessary as the cup receiver may be attached directly to the object upon which the whole device is'supported. Said vvcup receiver 30, is preferably open at both of the receptacle 31, through which the cups may be seen, and the attendant upon observing that the receiver 30 is full may substitute another in its place and remove the filled one to some convenient place where the used cups may be washed, and afterward replaced in the receptacle 10.

The device may be supported in any convenient manner, and I have shown hooks 36, 36, upon both receptacles that may hook into eyes 37 which are fastened to a wall or other support 38.

In using the device the cover 14:, is opened and clean cups are dropped into the receptacle 10, the flange of the first cup falling upon and being carried by the movable shoulders 20. By reason of the fact that the cups nest into each other a large number of cups may be placed in the receptacle, which of course may be of any desired or convenient length. When the cups have been put in place the cover 14, is closed and the device is ready for use. By taking hold of the protruding cup and-giving it a slight jerk in a downward direction /it may be detached from its support. After being used it may be placed in the receiver 30. As the protruding cup is removed, the remaining cups fall within the receptacle, the flange of the lowest cup striking the movable shoulder 20 and being arrested thereby. From the. above it is evident that a clean cup is always in place and ready for use.

The device has been designed especially for use in public places, suph as railway cars or any other place where drinking water or other beverages are to be obtained, and it has been designed to provide an individual sirous of using drinking cup for each person who is deit. The lowermost cup practically closes up the discharge end of the receptacle, thereby guarding in a great measure against the entrance of dust, etc.

It is I ny belief that heretofore no receptacle has ever been designed to contain and removably support a plurality of drinking vessels or cups wherein one cup at the time is partially exposed at the lower end, whereby it may be conveniently removed, and that I am the original inventor of such a device.

I am aware that various alterations and modifications of theform and construction of the device are possible without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not therefore desire to limit myself to the exact form of construction shown and described.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A sanitary cup holder, comprising an upright tubular cup receptacle having an open lower discharge end and one or more spring pressed cup supporting shoulders adapted to wholly support a stack of nestable cups therein in such manner that the lowermost cup is held in a partially exposed position capable of being removed from its support independent of the others above it.

2. A sanitary cup holder, comprising a cup receptacle having an open lower delivery end and a plurality of spring pressed supporting cup abutments extending into the receptacle and adapted to whollycsupport a stack of nestable cups therein in such manner that the lowermost cup may be detached independent of the others above it.

3. A sanitary cup holder, comprising a vertical open ended tubular cup receptacle, and one or more spring pressed pins projecting into the receptacle and forming yielding seats for removably supporting a plurality of nestable cups therein, in such mannerthat the lowermost cup protrudes below the receptacle in convenient position to be detached from its support.

4. A sanitary cup holder, comprising a cup receptacle having an open lower discharge end, and adapted to receive a plurality pf flanged nestable cups, and one or more spring pressed pins projecting into the receptacle near its lower end and adapted to engage with the under side of the flange of the lowermost cup, whereby all of the cups may thereby be supported, with the lowermost one protruding so as to be in position for convenient removal.

5. A sanitary cup holder, comprising a tubular cup receptacle, and one or more spring pressed shoulders projecting into the receptacle, and adapted to removably support a plurality of nested cups, that have lateral projections below their upper edges that are adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the cup next below, the lowermost cup being adapted to be removably supported directly upon the spring pressed shoulders.

6. A sanitary cup holder, comprising a tubular open ended cup receptacle, 2. cover 0f.which is directly carried by said pins in hinged to the upper end, a plurality of a partly exposed position whereby it may be spring arms secured to the wall of the reconvenlently'detached from its support. ceptacle, pins secured to said arms and pro- CHARLES L. RUEHS. jecting into the receptacle, and adapted to Witnesses:

remouably support a plurality of nested JOSEPH MAUnERNAcK,

cups 1n sald receptacle, the lowermost one CHARLES O. SHERVEY. 

